“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on seventh day from all his work which he had made” (Gen.2: 2). This is not only an account of the creation, but it also points out the prophetic view of the completion and perfecting of the bride-church.

Now, at the end of the period of grace in the seventh church age, the Lord brings His work with His people to a close. The apostle Paul testifies to the fact of the completion of God’s work in Phil.1: 6, “Being confident of this every thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. Only the perfected bride-church will be taken into Glory to partake of the wedding supper of the Lamb: “Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev.19: 9). Then comes the ‘Day of Rest’ in the ‘Millenial Reign’ – in the seventh thousandth year. For “...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet.3:8). Although the unbelievers say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” We as believers know, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...” (2 Pet.3: 4+9). Since Adam almost 6000 years have elapsed. “...But for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Mt.24: 22). Upon the authority of God’s Word, it can be said that the turning point in the history of mankind is within our reach.

“The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isa.14: 24).

What an assurance lies in these words! Not according to the plans of men, but what God purposed, that will He do. His counsel embraces the entire earth and His hand is stretched forth upon all nations, “For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isa.14: 26-27). The apostle Paul expresses his confidence by saying, “For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon earth” (Rom.9: 28). Because the Lord is about to do a mighty and short work, it is most important to have the right connection to what He is doing? Many are speaking about the signs of the end time, but are not taking heed to the message of the hour. “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isa.42: 9).

The Lord Himself will complete His work, “For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim; he shall be worth as in the valley of Gibeon that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act” (Isa.28: 21). The work of God seems strange in the eyes of men. The Lord has kept His Word and sent all the messengers, including the last prophet to the Gentiles. Now, He Himself is ready to finish His work. “For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim...” such is the prophecy of Isaiah –the, “Thus saith the Lord” for our time.

What happened at Mount Perazim? There the Lord gave a mighty breakthrough, slew the enemies and gave His people the victory. David shouted, “The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore, he called the name of that place Baal-perazim (Place of breakthrough)” (2 Sam.5: 20). “...He shall be worth as in the valley of Gibeon, complete his strange work.” Joshua had prayed, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon” (Josh.10: 12). These two occasions referred to by the prophet Isaiah give us a glimpse of the mighty way God will complete his strange work and His strange act (Hab.1: 5). The Lord Himself came to redeem His church, He Himself will perfect His church and He Himself will take her home. In the time of the end, He will give a mighty breakthrough. He will remove every obstacle and conquer every enemy to make them His footstool (Ps.110: 1-3). Thus, He will finish His work.

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” All genuine disciples of Jesus Christ have always had the longing to line up with the Word. The basic truth, we have to understand, is that God does all things according to His promised Word. Whether it is in nature or the church of the living God, it all must work out and come to pass according to the order and law of God’s Word.

In accordance with the plan of God, two things are running parallel in this generation: the returning of the Jews to their promised land, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock” (Jer.31:10), and also the calling out of the bride to return to the Word of promise, “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor.6:17-18).

Not all Jews are returning to Palestine and neither will all so –called believers come out of the organizations. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the elected ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Rom.11: 7). The same applies to the church. Only the elect are taking heed to the final call and are coming out of spiritual bondage.

Israel is likened unto a fig tree, “I found Israel like grapes in the wildness, I saw your fathers as the first –ripe in the fig tree at her first time” (Hos.9: 10). Jesus made a very important statement in the parable of the fig tree in reference to Israel, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled” (Mt.24: 32-34).

The Jews, who have been dispersed among the nations for over two thousand years, have now been gathered from the ends of the earth. In May, 1948, the nation of Israel was officially established. According to the words of Jesus, the last generation was to be privileged to see the gathering of Israel to their homeland and also witness and have part in the winding up of all the events, which the children of God have been waiting for throughout the ages. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For Verily I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Mt.13: 16-17). We must set aside all preconceived ideas and be alert to the fulfillment of the course of biblical events.

It is equally important to trace the dealings of God with God people back to the beginning of time. The fellowship and the blessing of the Lord with mankind were based upon the promises of His Word. As long as man kept the Word of God, he was protected by it and remained in fellowship with Him. Anyone contradicting or deviating from a Bible truth, doctrine or statement through private interpretation separates himself from God and is thrown out of balance and harmony of the entire Scripture. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2Tim.3: 16-17)

The fall caused by the ‘misinterpretation’ of God’s Word, separated man from the fellowship with his creator. But immediately, a provision was made for fallen humanity. According to God’s promised Word, there was to be a Supreme Sacrifice –the Redeemer, the Seed of the woman, who was to bruise the serpent’s head (Gen.3: 15).

The first private interpretation of the Scripture took place in the Garden of Eden. Those, who do not stay with the “Thus Saith the Lord” of the Word, will fall for the ‘misinterpretation’ of Satan, the old serpent. He instigated the first ‘misinterpretation’ of the God’s Word and continued to do so throughout the entire span of the time. He has lead even sincere people into believing his ‘misinterpretations’, instead of the original Word of God. “However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men...” (Mk.7: 7-9). Therefore we must take heed to solemn warning of 2 Pet.1: 20, “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

Hundreds of denominations are deeply rooted in their manmade traditions and have made the Word of God of non effect to them, by intermingling a portion of the Word with their own interpretations. It is not sufficient to have the carnal knowledge of the Scripture –it takes the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to those, who taught the Scripture at that time, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Mt.22: 29). It is not sufficient to only speak about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we also have to make ready. The promises for our time have to be brought into view for the preparation and perfection of the bride-church. We are not in need of the new Bible translations or new interpretations of the scripture, but we are in desperate need of the “Thus Saith the Lord”. Even if the Word for this hour is hard to be understood in some points, we must refrain from interpreting it –God is His own interpreter. Peter writes in reference to Paul, “As also in all his epistles, he spoke concerning these matters, in which there are certain things so hard to be understood that those who are ignorant and unstable pervert their meaning, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Pet.3: 16).

At the first coming of Christ, all true believers were called out from all manmade interpretations to see the fulfillment of prophecy in their time. The same is happening now before the second coming of Christ.

John was a man sent from God with the message for that time. “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe” (Jn.1: 7). They all were to come to the knowledge of the truth, not through a group, but through the ministry of the God-sent prophet. God did not reveal His mysteries to the scribes, but to His prophet, who was to prepare the way. This has repeated before the second coming of Christ.

On June 11, 1933, Bro. Branham held a baptismal service in the Ohio River. As he was about to baptize the seventeenth person, the supernatural light broke through the clouds, came down upon him, and a voice spoke the words, “As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, you are sent with a message to forerun the second coming of Christ.” The crowd of approximately 4000 was astonished. Some fainted, others prayed and some asked, “What meaneth this?”, when they saw this heavenly manifestation. God hath spoken –the elect are under the impact of the vindicated ministry of restoration. They comprehend the meaning of the words of Jesus, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (Jn.15: 7). Lk.24: 45 has become a reality to them, “Then opened him their understanding, that they might understand the scripture.” Every Word of God is the absolute truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit and brings life. Every private interpretation of the Word is a lie, separates from God and throws us into spiritual death. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mt.4: 4).